The massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean that spurred
a deadly tsunami claiming tens of thousands of lives over the weekend was
so huge that it caused the Earth to rotate faster, shortening the day, Russian
scientists say.

The earthquake, which hit 9.0 on the Richter scale, caused
the earth’s diameter to decrease, Roman Vilfand, head of Russia’s
Meteorological Center, was quoted by Interfax as saying.

“The Earth’s axis changes constantly, it
never remains at one point,” he said. Because the diameter of the Earth
decreased as a result of a shift in tectonic plates, the speed of the Earth
as it rotates around its own axis could increase.

“This can cause an increase in the length of the
day by several milliseconds,” Vilfand was quoted as saying.